- Contributed by听
- jackmaclean
- People in story:听
- John Allen Maclean
- Location of story:听
- Burma
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A3249696
- Contributed on:听
- 09 November 2004
This is part of a transcript of a letter sent by John Allen (Jack) MacLean, or No 2346510 Sigmn J MacLean, 144 W/T Section, Assam and East Bengal Signals, SEAC.
"..........as my thoughts are mainly about demob nowadays, these few lines are just to let you know how much I am looking forward to seeing Cath and Sandy and you.
I have just been awarded the 1939-43 Star and the Burma Star. I got the 1939-43 Star for being in Calcutta - Street fighting in Charringhee - it being the main shopping centre of Calcutta where, when you walk along there, you are either being blinded with Indians spitting Betel Nut or being chased by Sikh Taxi drivers who have a knack of just missing you by a hair breadth. Being in Burma got me the other, but as I have never fired a shot in anger, or even heard one and I have had an easier a better time here than I did at Calcutta, I think their system of awarding these things is unfair to the infantrymen and the many other front troops who I know have had a tough time of it.
I don't know whether you voted Labour but I hope you weren't one of the majority who put that old B...... Murdoch MacDonald back in Parliament. We had some good fun and arguments here during that time, when the results came through. If Labour was defeated in your home town, you got personally blamed for it, but I think we were all glad to see the last of Jimmie Grigg as War Minister - he was no favourite with SEAC Troops..................
This was sent by my father to my grandfather in Inverness sometime towards the end of the war in the East. On the troop ship home, his feelings about not being a worthy recipient of these campaign medals deepened and he threw them overboard. Like many, he rarely discussed his experiences, but the smell of curry always proved too evocative and we were denied this culinary delight until the 1980s. He never joined a Burma Star organisation, believing his contribution was unworthy.
I so admired him for his principles but wish we had these medals for posterity - however he did not wish it and I respect that.
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